Analysis of extreme rainfall in the Ebre Observatory (Spain)

The relationship between maximum rainfall rates for time intervals between 5 min and 24 h has been studied from almost a century (1905-2003) of rainfall data registered in the Ebre Observatory (Tarragona, Spain). Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves and their master equation for every return period in the location have been obtained, as well as the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for all the considered durations. In particular, the value of the 1-day PMP has resulted to be 415 mm, very similar to previous estimations of this variable for the same location. Extreme rainfall events recorded in this period have been analyzed and classified according to their temporal scale. Besides the three main classes of cases corresponding to the main meteorological scales, local, mesoscale, and synoptic, a fourth group constituted by complex events with high-intensity rates for a large range of durations has been identified also, indicating the contribution of different scale meteorological processes acting together in the origin of the rainfall. A weighted intensity index taking into account the maximum rainfall rate in representative durations of every meteorological scale has been calculated for every extreme rainfall event in order to reflect their complexity

Analysis of extreme rainfall in the Ebre Observatory (Spain)

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1476-0Relationship between maximum rainfall rates for time intervals between 5 minutes and 24 hours has been studied from almost a century (1905-2003) of rainfall data registered in the Ebre Observatory (Tarragona, Spain). Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves and its master equation for every return period in the location have been obtained, as well as the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for all the considered durations. In particular, the value of the 1-day PMP has resulted 415 mm, very similar to previous estimations of this variable for the same location. Extreme rainfall events recorded in this period have been analyzed and classified according to their temporal scale. Besides the three main classes of cases corresponding to the main meteorological scales, local, mesoscale and synoptic, a fourth group constituted by complex events with high intense rates for a large range of durations has been identified also, indicating the contribution of different scale meteorological processes acting together in the origin of the rainfall. A weighted intensity index taking into account the maximum rainfall rate in representative durations of every meteorological scale has been calculated for every extreme rainfall event in order to reflect their complexity.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Analysis of synoptic patterns in relationship with severe rainfall events in the Ebre Observatory (Catalonia)

The study has obtained a classification of the synoptic patterns associated with a selection of extreme rain episodes registered in the Ebre Observatory between 1905 and 2003, showing a return period of not less than 10 years for any duration from 5 min to 24 h. These episodes had been previously classified in four rainfall intensity groups attending to their meteorological time scale. The synoptic patterns related to every group have been obtained applying a multivariable analysis to three atmospheric levels: sea-level pressure, temperature, and geopotential at 500 hPa. Usually, the synoptic patterns associated with intense rain in southern Catalonia are featured by low-pressure systems advecting warm and wet air from the Mediterranean Sea at the low levels of the troposphere. The configuration in the middle levels of the troposphere is dominated by negative anomalies of geopotential, indicating the presence of a low or a cold front, and temperature anomalies, promoting the destabilization of the atmosphere. These configurations promote the occurrence of severe convective events due to the difference of temperature between the low and medium levels of troposphere and the contribution of humidity in the lowest levels of the atmosphere.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Cambio climático. Causas y perspectivas de futuro

Durante los últimos años se está produciendo un calentamiento global de nuestro planeta que la mayoría de los científicos asocia a un cambio climático producido en gran medida por la acción del hombre. En este artículo se revisan las evidencias científicas que sostienen esta afirmación, y las proyecciones de los modelos climatológicos, en función de los diferentes escenarios para este siglo.Peer reviewe

Comparación del tec obtenido usando datos de GPS y a partir de un modelo basado en datos de ionosonda

En: Sardón, E., Rius, A., Zarraoa, N. GPS inospheric delays. Publicación. Instituto de Astronomía y Geodesia, nº 185, 1993.In this paper we compare the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) obtained for a period of a week using two different methods: a) the ionospheric model DGR3 (Di Giovanni and Radicella model) for TEC based on ionosonde data and b) dual frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) data. During this period ionosonde data were collected at the Observatorio del Ebro and at El Arenosillo, and the GPS data was gathered at Madrid. The TEC obtained at both ionosonde stations using the DGR3 model bas been compared with the TEC predicted for tbese stations using tbe GPS data. In general, tbere is a very good agreement between both estimates of tbe TEC, and tbe maximum discrepancies are found around noon specially for El Arenosillo, where there is a bigger difference in latitude respect to the GPS site.Peer reviewe

A new geomagnetic observatory at Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands): Implications for future regional magnetic surveys

11 pages, 6 figures.A permanent geomagnetic observatory is always the ideal reference station for monitoring geomagnetic activity during airborne, marine or ground magnetic surveying, especially in Antarctica, where logistic difficulties are an important factor even for the deployment of temporary base stations. The utility of the magnetic observatory records for the correct reduction of the survey data is reinforced if both their spatial homogeneity and their particular anomaly biases are assessed. This, combined with data from the magnetic surveys themselves, can yield information on the crustal contribution to the Earth's magnetic field from a remote and poorly understood region. With these objectives in mind, we present a new geomagnetic observatory in the South Shetland Islands, where (because of the complex regional tectonic characteristics) magnetic surveys on one or another structure are conducted from time to time. An evaluation of the observatory representativeness and a look at the crustal magnetic anomaly ambience are also given.This work is part of the Research Project ANT95-0994-C03, supported by the Spanish Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología.Peer reviewe

Coherency between solar activity and meteorological parameters at 11 year period

3 pages, 7 figures.-- Contributed to: "The solar cycle and terrestrial climate": 1st Solar and Space Weather Euroconference (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sep 25-29, 2000).The historical records of temperature and rainfall at Ebre Observatory (40.8º N, 0.5º E) and the relative sunspot numbers have been used to study the possible influence of the 11-year solar cycle over the meteorological parameters. Spectral and cross-correlation analysis have been applied in order to find such a relationship. The yearly average maximum temperature displays a period near 11 years, while the yearly averaged minimum temperature and yearly rainfall values do not present any significant peak about that period. It has been obtained that the 11-year solar cycle and the 11-year oscillation found in the maximum temperature are coherent, practically in phase. Moreover, an 11-year oscillation is found to be significant in the cross-correlation between the solar activity data and the maximum temperature. The results show a possible relation of the 11-year solar activity cycle on the maximum temperature data used here.Peer reviewe

Decoupled leaf-wood phenology in two pine species from contrasting climates: Longer growing seasons do not mean more radial growth

Climate warming is expected to lengthen the growing season of tree species and enhance radial growth rates. Alternatively, a longer growing season could not lead to improved radial growth if wood production depends more on growth rate than on growing season length. We test these ideas by comparing leaf phenology data and the estimated start and end dates of wood formation predicted by the VS-Lite growth model. We analyzed long- term series of leaf unfolding and fall dates and reconstructed radial growth of two pine species under contrasting climatic conditions: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in a Russian boreal site and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) in a Spanish Mediterranean site. On average, leaf onset occurred in days 99 and 163 in P. halepensis and P. sylvestris, respectively, about 40 days earlier than the estimated start date of wood formation. The onset of leaf unfolding advanced 2.1 days per decade in P. sylvestris in response to warmer May temperatures. Radial growth was enhanced by warm-wet spring-summer conditions in P. sylvestris and by wet soil conditions from prior winter up to current summer in P. halepensis. In this species the growing season length and the radial growth rate were not coupled because the growing season length shortened during cool-wet periods whereas growth rates increased. In P. sylvestris leaf onset was delayed during years with low growth rates suggesting a potential coupling between warmer spring conditions, earlier leaf onset and enhanced growth whenever soil water content is high enough. Overall, we show that longer growing seasons do not necessarily imply higher radial growth rates.This study was supported by project FORMAL (RTI2018-096884-B-C31) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. FC was supported by the R&D unit CFE (FCT/UIDB/04004/2020)

Analysis of extreme rainfall in the Ebre Observatory (Spain)

The relationship between maximum rainfall rates for time intervals between 5 min and 24 h has been studied from almost a century (1905-2003) of rainfall data registered in the Ebre Observatory (Tarragona, Spain). Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves and their master equation for every return period in the location have been obtained, as well as the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for all the considered durations. In particular, the value of the 1-day PMP has resulted to be 415 mm, very similar to previous estimations of this variable for the same location. Extreme rainfall events recorded in this period have been analyzed and classified according to their temporal scale. Besides the three main classes of cases corresponding to the main meteorological scales, local, mesoscale, and synoptic, a fourth group constituted by complex events with high-intensity rates for a large range of durations has been identified also, indicating the contribution of different scale meteorological processes acting together in the origin of the rainfall. A weighted intensity index taking into account the maximum rainfall rate in representative durations of every meteorological scale has been calculated for every extreme rainfall event in order to reflect their complexity